Health Secretary Wes Streeting dealt with calls last night to ditch the 'unreasonable' Net Zero plan to electrify all UK ambulances within 15 years.
The cash-strapped NHS is preparing to abandon all its diesel ambulances and install almost 5,000 charging points at medical facilities and ambulance stations to power a fleet of electric-powered lorries.
Health chiefs have refused to reveal just how much the new ambulances will cost, but main figures seen by the Mail on Sunday expose it will cost ₤ 100million simply to upgrade the grid and electrical facilities needed for charging points.
The MoS can also reveal there are currently simply 2 electric-powered ambulances getting guests in England - compared to more than 4,500 diesel ambulances.
There are 160 other electric emergency situation automobiles for paramedics, consisting of two automobiles, 16 reaction vans and 3 motorbikes.
The most recent electric ambulances have a variety of up to 200 miles, but paramedic teams in backwoods often take a trip further in a shift.
Latest figures reveal the average reaction time in England for the most deadly 'category-one' ambulance calls is seven minutes and 52 seconds - compared to an NHS target of seven minutes.
Last night Nick Timothy MP, previous chief of personnel to ex-prime minister Theresa May, stated: 'Ambulance services have actually been having a hard time to satisfy their action targets. With these difficulties it is absurd to distract NHS employees from their tasks with impractical Net Zero targets.
West Midlands Ambulance service introduced the first totally electrical emergency ambulance 2020
Wes Streeting dealt with calls last night to ditch the 'absurd' strategy to energize all UK ambulances
'Time, planning and expenditure are going into buying electric cars and building battery chargers - a lot of which will never ever be installed - rather of improving response times.
'A lot more worrying is the difficulty of updating the grid in time to satisfy the extra need.
'This is yet another case of climate policy racing ahead of technology with shocking results for clients and taxpayers.'
England's first electric ambulance began operating in the West Midlands in 2020. Another eight will be delivered this year to be utilized in urban areas such as Birmingham.
West Midlands Ambulance Service stated: 'Seventy percent of our location is primarily rural and this continues to be the biggest element in our relocation to electrical - having the range to run in locations where cars can do 200 miles-plus in a shift.'
East of England Ambulance Service has been trialling three electrical ambulances considering that 2023, but has actually not utilized them to transport passengers. Another eight will be delivered to the service this year.
The Department of Health stated: 'New electric ambulances will conserve the NHS ₤ 59million a year to reinvest in frontline care.'
The NHS said: 'It is right we look for sustainable alternatives when they improve patient care and save the taxpayer cash. Electric ambulances will not impact reaction times, [and] are cutting emissions, upkeep and fuel expenses.'
Theresa MayWes StreetingNHS
